IHSA Beginning Official

1
IHSA Beginning Official

• Getting Started
• What Every New Official Should Know

Created by Debi Neff Rhonda Haffner
2
Agenda

• Licensing
• Promotion
• Post-Season Assignments
• Officials Associations
• Professionalism
• Sportsmanship

3
Licensing

• New License is 45 per sport
• Annual renewal (Only online)
• 1 sport 45 15 per additional sport
• Dated July 1 June 30 (no exceptions)
• Entry Level Requirements
• View online rules interpretation meeting annually
• Attend an IHSA certified clinic once every 3 yrs.
• Be in compliance with the conviction policy
• Inform the IHSA if indicted of any crime
• Wear the proper IHSA approved uniform and patches
  
• IHSA patch on left sleeve
• Approved IHSA logo on pockets or hats

4
Licensing (cont.)

• Adhere to all National Federation/IHSA rules,
  policies and procedures
• Fulfill contractual agreements
• Properly complete and submit any required special
  report forms available online in your officials
  center.
• Maintain high standards of conduct
• First year officials must attend a certified
  clinic within the first year or take the zero
  level clinic available online.

5
Promotion

• 3 levels of officials
• Registered (X)
• Recognized (R)
• Certified (C)
• Post-season assignment priority (C, R, X)
• Must
• Be an active official
• Complete 2 years at current level before
  attempting promotion
• Submit application by published deadline for
  sport
• Have met the current rules interpretation meeting
  criteria
• Have officiated minimum number of varsity
  contests

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Promotion (cont.)

• Registered to Recognized
• Achieve minimum of 85 on Part I Exam
• Achieve minimum of 85 on Part II Exam (date
  specific)
• Obtained recommendations for promotions and send
  them to the IHSA officials department
• Recognized to Certified
• Obtained recommendations for promotions and send
  them to the IHSA officials department
• Achieve minimum of 90 on Part I Exam
• Achieve minimum of 85 on Part II Exam (date
  specific)

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Post-Season Assignments

• Eligibility Requirements
• Met certified clinic criteria
• Met Rules Interpretation Meeting criteria
• Not on probation
• Completed post-season availability information
• Online in the officials center personal site
• Assignments based on
• Power rating
• Percentile ranking of coaches officials ratings
• Percentile ranking of Top 15 list
• school, assignors, IHSA recognized associations
  and certified officials
• Geographic representation

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Post-Season Assignments (cont.)

• Power Rating
• 8 areas X 5 points each 40 Maximum
• Part I Exam Score
• Promotion Level (C, R, X)
• Previous post-season experience
• Ratings of coaches and officials
• Top 15 list
• Number of contests worked
• Clinic level attended with the last three years
• Yearly clinic attendance no matter what level
• Notification of Assignments
• Schools are electronically notified by IHSA
• Officials are electronically notified of
  assignments

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Officials Associations

• Benefits of joining
• Education, mentoring, socialization
• Periodic group meetings (monthly, weekly, etc.)
• Name recognition (assignors, athletic directors,
  etc.)
• Discussion topics
• Current issues, rules changes, etc.
• Situation reviews
• Recognized associations
• May conduct IHSA certified clinics
• May Provide a voice in post-season assignment
  through Top 15 list

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Professionalism

• Goal Setting
• Be realistic in advancement expectations
  (Jr-High, Frosh, JV, Varsity)
• Challenge yourself with advancement and promotion
  goals
• Personal development (clinics, associations,
  mentors)
• Self and partner post-game evaluation
• Fitness and Health
• Year-round commitment to physical conditioning
• Be realistic about performance with
  injury/illness
• Appearance
• Proper uniform, patches, and sport specific
  equipment
• Take pride in your appearance

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Professionalism (cont.)

• Rule Knowledge
• Frequent study of rule book and case book
• Be aware of rule changes discuss with peers
• Study Part I and II exams
• Know how to use Officials Handbook
• Responsibilities Duties
• Must understand pre-, during, and post-contest
  responsibilities of each member on the
  officiating team
• Strive for consistency and fairness impartial
• Goal is to not be noticed courteous but
  detached
• Communication is key, but know correct approach
• Practice proper mechanics

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Professionalism (cont.)

• Contracting Contests
• Through association assignors OR directly through
  school Athletic Directors
• Be prompt, organized and gracious
• Honor all contracts, regardless of other
  opportunities
• If you must break a contract
• Provide early notice to host school
• Offer to recruit a replacement
• Alert other officiating team members, if possible

13
Sportsmanship

• IHSA Communication Requirements
• May use special report form to report
  inappropriate behavior
• MUST submit special report form to communicate
  ejections
• Encouraged to submit SAWA reports
• Guidelines for Dealing with Unruly Spectators
• AVOID direct contact address through host
  management
• Host Management obligated to carry out spectator
  ejections
• DO NOT CONFRONT spectators directly
• Remember to communicate with players, coaches,
  and officiating team

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Sportsmanship (cont.)

• Officials should be role model for Sportsmanship
• Address in pre-contest conference with captains
  and coaches
• Know and Use warnings and penalties to maintain
  control
• Shake hands with both coaches prior to contest
• Regardless of contest progress, treat officiating
  team with respect and tolerance discussion takes
  place after the contest

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Conclusion

• Utilize IHSA website
• www.ihsa.org
• Know and use the Sports Officials Handbook
• Discuss, learn, get involved
• Set goals and strive to meet them
• Represent the profession well
• Have fun!